Colm Murphy pays tribute as Brave Inca dies, aged 27

Brave Inca is perhaps remembered most for his two triumphs at the Cheltenham Festival, seeing off subsequent Gold Cup winner War Of Attrition for Supreme Novices' glory in 2004 before returning two years later to cap a fine season by winning the Champion Hurdle in the hands of AP McCoy.

TRIBUTE: Tony McCoy with Brave Inca and trainer Colm Murphy Pic:©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Colm Murphy paid tribute to Brave Inca following his death at the age of 27, describing the experience of overseeing the dual Cheltenham Festival winner's career as "the nearest thing you could get to winning the lotto."

Alongside regular foes Hardy Eustace, Macs Joy and Harchibald, Brave Inca became a central figure in a vintage era for two-mile hurdlers, as he took his then rookie handler on a phenomenal journey to the top of the sport.